Improvement in tobacco-presses



MINNICH.

TOBACCO-PRESS} No.173,736. Patented Feb. 22, 18 76.

W'TNESSES 'INVENTOR N.FETERS. PNOTO-UTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D. c

U NITED STATES PATENT SIMON B. MINNIGEOF LANDISVILLE, PENNSYLViAfiIiir- IMPROVEMENT m ToBAcco-PREssEsf Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,736, dated February 22, 1876; application filed December 28, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'S1M0N B. MINNIc H, of

-. Landisville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Baling-Pre'sses, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to construct -a portable baling-press for domestic or farm purposes, which is readily adjusted for fillers or longer or shorter bales of tobacco, or the like, the sides so hinged as to be readily removed or laid down flat out of the way for cordin'g the bale, the end pieces of the box made adjustable on the side pieces at one or.

both ends, each side provided with a jointed lock-brace to hold them in a vertical position, together with an adjustable follower and inultifaced or octangular press-beam, having rounded ends for rotating in the chain-connection by means of a lever attachment on the end of the beam, at all times to secure a direct vertical pressure on the bale without relaxing the chain.

The accompanying drawings, with the letters of reference marked thereon, together with'a brief description, will enable those .:skilled in the art to make and use the same,

- r The press-box is formed by connecting the one-half of the end pieces 0 with the sides A, to which they may be firmly secured at one end or made adjustable at both ends by means of slots s, and binding-screws and washers, so as to shorten or lengthen the space within the combined box for receiving fillers, or other shorter or longer material to be baled. These sides A are hinged to the side rails D, or base of the machine which supports the fixed bot-- tom B, so that the sides can be laid down flat out of theway, with their respective portions of the end .pieces 0. The bottom B, as also the under side of the follower J, have the ordinary grooves,through which the baling-cords are passed with ease by means of an openeyed implement shown at T. I also show an end piece, 0, having headed pins 0 in the base-rail beneath, for being inserted through eyed slots b, made inthe bottom B of the box, but prefer the ends made adjustable on the sides. My follower J 'also shows a sliding piece, K, which can be removed. If desirable, several such can be made at one or both ends to adapt it to the capacity of the adjusted box. These end pieces 0 are shown boxed out, that the projecting en'dsI of the follower may pass down in the space between them in pressing. In order to brace the side pieces A in their vertical position without loss of time, I use the jointed lock-brace P Q, hinged at one end to the box, and the other to a central cross-piece, 0, projecting on each side, as shown. cure the hinge, and which, by turning upward, allows the hinge-bands to be withdrawn and the sides removed, by first drawing the pivotbolt to disconnect the jointed bracepiece P from the foot-piece on 0, should it be desirable to detach the box altogether. To enable me to shift my press-beam while under pressure, to secure a regular vertical pressure, or to restore the same, Ifind it of the greatest advantage 'to have an eight-angled or multifaced beam, having narrow flat sides resting upon the follower, and the ends rounded so as to turn in a hook-rin g or collar, which latter is connected by the chain H with the ordinary Windlass G, provided with its ratchet and pawl M N. To rotate the press-beam from one face to the other under pressure, to secure the proper adjustment, I attach a lever, Z, to one or both ends of the beam, which makes it easy without relaxing the chain. I employ a ,detachedlever, L, having two stout plates on the end, centrally made concave to set over the shaft, while the ratchet-wheel is received between the plates, and a cross-pin or bolt to engage the ratchetteeth for turning the shaft in winding thechain while pressing.

I am aware that the Windlass Gr, ratchet M,-

and pawl N, and chain H, or its equivalent, are old devices, together with levers and followers. I therefore lay no special claim to their use, apart from my improvements herein set forth.

I am not aware of a press before used con- The hinge B has a turn-hook to sestructed with the combined sides and end pieceshinged: and braced. in the manner shown, in combination with the adjustable follower and rotary press-beam, operating in they man.- ner and for the purpose specified.

Therefore, what I claim as my improvement in billing-presses, is

1. In combination with the hinged sides A,

the jointed, hinged lock-brace? Q, substan- 'tially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the removable hinged sides A, provided with slots 8, the adjustable G, ratchet and pawl M N, and. detached lever i L, the whole constructed and operated as and 'for the purpose herein set forth.

sIMoN B. MINNIOH.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, J A0013 STAUFFE-R. 

